Peet Garners CAA Preseason Field Hockey Player of the Year Accolades; Patzner and Winesett Chosen as Preseason All-CAA Honorees

RICHMOND, Va. – Following an impressive freshman campaign, University of Delaware sophomore Esmée Peet(Zeewolde, The Netherlands; RSG Slingerbos) has been tabbed the 2014 Colonial Athletic Association Preseason Field Hockey Player of the Year, as voted on by the league’s head coaches.

Last season, Peet was honored as both the CAA Rookie and Player of the Year while earning Longstreth/NFHCA All-Mid Atlantic Region First Team honors. She was also named to the All-CAA First Team and All-Rookie Team while picking up Synapse Sports Rookie of the Year, All-Rookie Team and Second Team All-America accolades. Peet rewrote the Blue Hen history books in 2013 as she set a new freshman record with 32 points on 13 goals and six assists.

Patzner joined Peet last season amongst numerous award lists as she was named a Longstreth/NFHCA Third Team All-American and a member of the Longstreth/NFHCA All-Mid Atlantic Region First Team. The midfielder was also recognized as a First Team All-CAA and All-Tournament Team honoree after finishing the 2013 slate by leading the league with 41 points on a conference-best 16 goals and nine assists. Her 41 points tied for fourth in Delaware single-season history while the 16 goals was good for seventh in a single season.

Winesett also forced her name into the Delaware record books last season as she posted nine assists, a new program record for a freshman. Additionally, she tied for the CAA lead in assists. Winesett collected All-CAA Second Team, All-Rookie Team, Longstreth/NFHCA All-Mid Atlantic Region Second Team and Synapse Sports All-Rookie Team accolades.

Earlier this week, the Blue Hens were predicted to finish first in the 2014 CAA Preseason Poll. Delaware won a program-record 17 games last fall, including a victory over Liberty in a NCAA Tournament play-in contest. Head coach Rolf van de Kerkhof, who is entering his fourth season at UD, and his coaching staff earned NFHCA Mid-Atlantic Coach of the Year and CAA Co-Coach of the Year honors in 2013.

Delaware kicks off the regular season on the road as the Blue Hens make a west coast swing to California to take on Stanford (Aug. 29), Pacific (Aug. 30) and Cal (Sept. 1). UD’s home opener will be Friday, Sept. 5 as the Hens host Richmond for a 7 p.m. contest at Rullo Stadium. Admittance to all home Blue Hens field hockey games is free and open to the public.